Leading EDGE Service Day

Earlier this month, the Leading EDGE, the Center for Leadership’s student group, hosted a Day of Service in partnership with Peanut-Butter N’ Luvin’. Around 20 students from different affiliate programs, and some unaffiliated, came together at the Wesley Foundation to create care packages for the unhoused community in Boulder. The care packages consisted of food, health supplies, and clothing; after creating the packages, students went out into the community to deliver them and engage in meaningful conversations.

By the end, around 40 care packages were given out and the students had many takeaways. “This experience provided me with a different perspective,” stated one student. Most CU students don’t get the opportunity to interact with the unhoused community in Boulder, so hearing different peoples' stories was very eye-opening. “Not only was volunteering a great opportunity for me to give back to my community, but it also allowed me to make more connections within it.” Part of the mission of the Leading EDGE is to connect student leaders from across campus. This Day of Service allowed students to bond over a volunteering experience and hopefully grow their leadership network. Out of all the different takeaways from the day, one student was able to capture the message that Peanut-Butter N’ Luvin’ is trying to spread: “It’s all too common to ignore the homeless population, but at the end of the day they’re just as human as the rest of us and deserve the same respect and quality of life.” This is an important lesson that everyone should learn, and the Leading EDGE hopes that all students who participated will carry it with them for the rest of their life.